Hi Ladies

My mother and I were recently talking about a case where a mother started to breast-feed her child in a pool. I've always been a proponent of breast-feeding as I think it is natural and best for the baby. However I do believe there should be some limitations. I do not think it is very sanitary to be feeding in a public pool. The mother was asked to kindly go to the family room to feed her child. She retaliated and sat on the steps of the pool and continued to feed her child. She was eventually asked to leave.

I also believe that when in a public place one should be discreetly covered by a receiving blanket if a family room is not available. The woman has since filed a complaint against the recreation center and has staged a breast-feeding sit-in. I do think one should be able to breast-feed in public however discretion should be advised. Ladies what do you think?

Personally, I think of breast-feeding as a quiet, bonding time between mother and child--Not something the public needs to be party to. Before the invention of the baby bottle, I'm sure our fore-mothers didn't whip out their feeding stations during prayer services or at the local mercantile. Perhaps todays woman is more, um, earthy, but I truly think being discreet is something that ought not go out of fashion. "Discreet" and "modesty" probably have become obsolete in most dictionaries, but I think those standards should still be aspired to. If baby is hungry in a public place, there are private corners one can go to or maybe a baby bottle can be used at those times. Yes, it is natural and a beautiful part of nature, but so is making love and having a bowel movement--you really wouldn't want an audience then either.

I totally agree... sometimes I think these women just test these situations so they can garner attention and make a fuss.

I also agree with the statement ... modesty shouldn't go out of style. Sadly, I'm afraid maybe it already has ... I don't think we can blame anyone other than our own generation either.

Yes, it is natural and a beautiful part of nature, but so is making love and having a bowel movement--you really wouldn't want an audience then either.
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I agree completely! I once saw a woman breast feed in church and everyone who walked down the aisle to communion got a birds eye view. Our church has all sorts of accommodations for privacy and there is no reason she needed to be feeding the baby in the church proper.

I agree! Breast feeding is a wonderful part of being a mom but it is not something to be shared with the world at large.

Jeaninne

My mother and I were talking about this further and my mother mentioned that she thinks that there are some women who do it to simply to be exhibitionalists.
(the ones that take their tops off and are fully exposed that is) And yes we both have witnessed this.

Great topic...
I can speak from experience here. I nursed 4 children, the first 3 for 2 years each and the 4th, whom I had at age 40, for 3 years!!!! Geeze, I know I probably raised a few eyebrows on that one....lol
I truly believe that nursing a baby should be a private matter. Now don't get me wrong, I was not one to go into a restroom to hide out, instead I covered myself and my baby with a blanket as not to embarrass myself or anyone who happened to walk by. It's called respect. Whipping out your boob to all the world is repulsive and cheap, even if it is to feed a hungry infant. I got to be such a pro at hiding my nursing infant that I could speed walk the mall and no body would even suspect I was nursing. It's just so easy to be modest that there is no excuse. Now for those who can't stomache a nursing mother who is covered up......GET OVER IT!!!! Go to any Mall in the USA and I guarantee you will see more boob, belly and butt cheaks hanging out for the world to see and I sure as heck don't hear anyone complaining about that.....PLEASE!!!!!

I think there is nothing wrong with breast feeding as long as there's discretion. Some people object to it completely, which is unreasonable and silly. There are occasions when a mother is away from home or cannot get to a completely private place. Nowadays I've seen public restrooms that have a quiet rest area for mothers, but this may not always be convenient, either. However, breastfeeding in a public pool is not only very dangerous for the baby, who will certainly take in germs and chlorinated water, but it's almost as if the mother was just trying to cause trouble. There are always people who don't get enough attention in life, and must go against whatever rules they can in order to be in the spotlight. Most of us would avoid public displays at all cost; at least, I certainly would, but for every rule there will be people who have to argue about it. I'm sorry that this mother had to involve her innocent baby in order to get the attention she needs. We're all doing the best we can and none of us wants to deal with someone who needs to burn everyone out. This mother should realize that the person who's standing right next to her could have a heavy heart; people are terminally ill or are dealing with the loss of a loved one or they are carrying an emotional burden for some other reason. Causing trouble over something petty like breastfeeding is just stupidity.

I think that the woman should have accommodated the request, but I think that the pool management over-reacted. It's not like that happens all the time. I agree with many that discretion should be used in consideration of others.

Regards,
Suzanne

Wrong, you can hear me complaining about that night and day. There is a particular family I always seem to run into when shopping. Daddy is just so proud to show off his pubescent daughter with the crop top and the jeans or short skirt just a hair (no pun intended) above her pubic area. Why is he so proud to have men ogling his young daughter? Shouldn't daddy be protective of her? My father never would have let me go out in public like that.

Even some commercials on TV--good lord, these woman stick everything in your face and if you happen to have a big screen television, you probably get to see nearly as much as her gyno.

At church--yes, at church--This young woman was sitting a few seats in front. She had those low rider jeans and every time she sat her ass crack would pop out. Ewwwwwwww!!! I'm sure the Lord appreciated that, too. Same thing with a young girl I used to work with. She would come over to my desk to talk to me, and darn it, her stinky navel would be right in my face. blek.....

I've also noticed that the most offensive outfits always seems to be in church how ironic!

I was one to breast feed my children but always wanted it to be a quiet private time away from other watching humans.

The thing I find bad about a 'pool feeding' is that you really shouldn't eat or drink anything near a pool anyway. Think about what would happen if the baby spit up! They would have a bad pool situation on their hands.

Hi Bookworm,
That father deserves a drive by slapping along with his daughter......he sounds like a pervert..
I agree with you about the TV smut also. I was at the gym yesterday watching the TV while on the treadmill and could not believe they were pretty much having oral sex on one of the soap operas!! I was shocked and embarrassed. I have also seen my share of cleavage and dresses nearly up to the glutial fold at church. Are they there to praise the Lord or find a date or cause some poor soul to stumble........over his drool...............lol

I breast-fed 7 kids and only on two rare occcasions did I have to do it in public, like some of you say think some women just like the attention

I'm so glad to see so many women who are pro-breast feeding. I'm with the group on this subject...breast feeding is wonderful, but should be discrete and private. I'm not surprised that this women at the pool made a fuss, however. At the risk of sounding like an old person, I cannot believe the clothing choices of some young women. The tight pants, the bulging flesh with a cropped top. I don't want or need to see anyone's belly button piercing when I'm shopping.

Ditto for the boys...pull your pants up, and for heavens sake, take off your damn hat (usually a baseball cap turned sideways) when you are inside; especially in a restaurant.

When I taught high school, it was a rule in my classroom that gentleman (and ladies) had to remove their hats. I got challenged on it...a couple of loud, vulgar parents complained that I was "infringing on their chidren's right to self expression." Last time I looked, the Bill of Rights didn't apply to minors. So I was told by the principal and superintendant that I had to let these little punks wear their hats in class. I refused to comply, and got several verbal and written reprimands that went into my personnel file. I wonder if high schools allow breast feeding in class?

I agree with all of you about the breast feeding - show some discretion. I breast fed my 2 children and was always aware that some people are uncomfortable with it, so I always sought out a quiet place.

I'm also a high school teacher. Our school doesn't allow hats inside the building. Students remove their hats at the door. If they forget, they are reminded. This rule has been in place for a few years now, so the students just accept it. They don't complain about it anymore. We also have a dress code, which doesn't allow for spaghetti straps, underwear showing, etc. This is harder to enforce and is a constant battle. Now, since it's winter here, it isn't such a problem, but as soon as those first warm days of spring show up, out comes the flesh!

When I was breastfeeding, I'd use the restroom in the mall. If I had it to do it all over again, I would have sat in the mall lounge area and used a blanket to cover up. I can't think of any place more disgusting than a germ-ridden restroom. What was I thinking? When I was with my family, I'd go off - alone - to another room to nurse. Of course, I missed out on all the company and conversation during that time. It wasn't long before I decided to just discreetly breastfed in front of family. No one was offended and I (and baby too) once again felt like we were part of the family. I think discretion is key to taking care of baby and keeping the peace.